Marking machine



Jan. 8, 1935. H. s. WOLFF ET AL.

MARKING MACH I NE Filed March 23, 1933 6 SheetsSheet l 07/457770/73 J/argy J. ZI/bl Z'dwural zz. 65/2 5 y Z ir' arrafiwr) Jm. 8, 1935. H, s. WOLFF ET AL MARKING MACHINE Filed March 23, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z/La'fATTORNEY Jan. 8, 1935. H. s. WOLFF ET AL MARKING MACHINE Filed March 23, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jan. 8, 935- H. s. WOLFF ET AL MARKING MACHINE Filed March 25, 1933 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 M Jm WA. 1

MW. mu r 8w SQ R R Nu w Q Q M Q m #wiw ATTORNEY Jan. 8, 1935. H, s, WOLFF ET AL MARKING MACHINE Filed March 23, 1933 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 ave Z'hir' ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 8, 1935 UNITED STATES means PTENT FFEQE MARKING MACHINE New York Application March 23, 1933, Serial No. 662,242

20 Claims.

This invention relates to a machine for marking various articles for identification or for other purposes. It has for its object to provide a machine particularly useful, for example, in retail stores or other establishments, where the initials of the purchaser, the name of the store where the article was sold, and a description of the merchandise, can be stamped on the article when it is sold. This provides the purchaser with an identifying mark on the article which he buys, enabling him to thereafter identify his property, its size, color or other description and its place of purchase. A marking machine of this character is very useful for marking stockings, gloves, hats, shirts, collars, sheets, pillow cases, and many other articles too numerous to mention.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and sturdy machine which can be easily operated by a single revolution of an operating han- 20 dle', thus permitting its use by clerks in stores, or the like, and by which identifying markings can be easily applied to an article of merchandse.

We are aware that various typesv of printing and marking machines have been heretofore constructed, but due to their design, their ability to mark or print has been limited to certain articles. to print or mark very thin and flimsy textile fabric, leather or other flexible material, and with 30 the same facility and without any alterations in the machine or its setting, it is possible also to mark or print upon a relatively heavy or thick article. The ability of the machine to successfully print upon articles of various thicknesses and varying natures, renders the machine widely useful.

More specifically, the inventin comprises a relatively simple and compact device provided with a plurality of type-carrying rings adjustable 40 with respect to one another so that a selected inscription may be prepared or set by adjustment of the several rings, andthen imprinted upon the article intended to receive the printing.

A feature of the invention resides in the use of a movable and resiliently mounted platen which supports the article to be inscribed always at a definite position to receive the imprint from the printing rings, and this regardless of the thickness, bulk or nature of the article.

Another feature of the invention resides in an automatic locking means by which the machine cannot be operated unless the article to be printed is in proper position to receive the pressure of the printing type.

Another feature of the invention consists in the With our improved machine it is possible means whereby ink is supplied to the type at a position remote from the article to be printed so as to positively prevent the ink from coming in contact with the article and injuring or damaging it.

These, and many other features of novelty reside in our improved marking machine, a further description of which will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein an embodiment of the invention is shown, Fig. l is a vertical sectional View through the machine on the line 1-1 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 2 is a view showing the mounting for the ink distributing roller; Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view through the machine; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the machine with a portion of one of the side covers broken away to disclose construction, and with the platen carriage drawn out; Fig. 5 is a plan view of a portion of the type rings and drum on which said rings are mounted; Fig. 6 is a sectional View on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4 looking in the direction. of the arrows; Fig. '7 is a sectional view on the line 77 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 8 is a section through the drum which carries the type rings, showing the locking means for holding the type rings in their set positions; Fig. 9 is a side elevation of one of the machine frame members showing the locking means and means for oscillating the drum; and Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9, showing the printing drum in its lowered or printing position.

The frame of the machine consists primarily of two spaced side frame members or plates 11 and 12 which are held in spaced relationship by suitable cross-braces 13 and secured firmly to a properly shaped base plate 14. Said plate 14 is provided with suitable supporting feet 202. The main, manually rotated shaft 15, is mounted to turn in the frame members 11 and 12, one end of .said shaft projecting away from the frame member 11 to receive the operating crank-handle 16 by which it is rotated. Secured at the opposite end of the shaft is a sprocket 17 about which a drive chain 18 extends, said chain engaging a sprocket 19 secured on a cam-shaft 20 located below the shaft 15. Through the arrangement disclosed, both shafts l5 and 20 will rotate in the same direction by manual rotation of the shaft 15 by the handle 16. V

Secured on the cam-shaft 20 are two cams 21 and 22, these cams being alike and each provided with a cam-groove 23 in'which rollers 24 mounted on the lower end of drum-carrying frames 25 travel. These cams 20, co-operating with the rollers 24 move the frames 25 about their pivot 15 with an arcuate movement to cause them to raise and lower the drum, carrying printing rings, in a manner to be hereinafter described.

The frames 25 each consist of a triangulated or segment-shaped casting, both castings being rotatably mounted on the main shaft 15. Extending between and connecting the two frames 25 is a shaft 26 on which a drum 2'! is secured. This shaft is extended at its right-hand end (when viewed as in Fig. 3) to freely pass through a vertically disposed slot 200 located in the. frame member 11. The frames 25 are loose on the shaft 26, said shaft and drum 27 carried thereby being capable of oscillatory movement relative to the frames 25 as will be described hereafter. Mounted on the periphery of the drum 2'? is a number of annular printing rings. Five of these. rings are shown, the same being indicated at 28, 29, 3 0, 31 and 32. It will be understood that the number of these annular printing rings employed may be increased or decreased according to the indicia to be printed by the machine. Each printing ring is independently manually rotatable relative to the drum 27 so that the type carried by each ring may be set relative to that borne by the adjacent rings and a proper inscription thus printed by the suitable aligned letters or type borne by the several rings. To permit this manual adjustment of the several rings, each ring is provided with an inner annular rack or ring gear 33 which is engaged and rotated by a pinion. The pinion for rotating the ring 28 is indicated at 34, the same being secured on a shaft 35, protruding through an arcuate slot 36 formed in the frame member 12 and provided at its outer end with a knob 3'7 by which it may be rotated to turn the ring 28 to any suitable setting. Similarly, the ring 29 is rotated by a pinion 38 fixed on the shaft 39 projecting through the slot 36 and terminating in a knob 40. Likewise, the ring 30 is rotated by a pinion 41 secured on a shaft 42 carrying a knob 43. In similar manner the pinion 44 on the shaft 45 rotates the ring 31,

said shaft 45 carrying a knob 46. Likewise pinion 47, on shaft 48 provided with knob 49 acts to turn the ring 32. In order that the respective ring-turning pinions may mesh with the respective racks on the several type-rings, the wall of the drum 27 is slotted at five points, one of such slots being shown at 50 in Fig. 1.

By manipulation of the five knobs 3'7, 40, 43, 46 and 49 the five type-rings may be turned on the drum to any suitable setting. The rings 28 and 32 carry removable type bars 51 on a portion of their periphery, these bars being held in undercut or T-shaped slots 201 (Fig. 8) in the ring and prevented from longitudinal movement out of said slots by means of screws 52, the heads of which overlie the ends of the bars 51 while said bars are located in the slots 201. The re mainder of the periphery of each of the rings 28 and 32 carries identifying plates 53, each of these plates carrying printed indicia corresponding to that borne by one of the type bars 51 carried by the ring. Each plate 53 is so positioned relative to its corresponding type bar that when said type bar is located at the bottom of the drum, orin printing position, the corresponding identifying plate 53 will be in registration with a setting window or slot 54 provided in a cross-plate 55 extending between and connecting the side covers 56 which enclose the opposite sides of the machine. It will be apparent from the foregoing, that when the two knobs 37 and 49 are rotated to align the required indicia borne by the selected one of them with the window 54, type bars 51 bearing corresponding letters or type will be located in printing position or above the platen indicated at 56.

The three central type-rings 29, 30 and 31 carry alphabetically arranged letters or type 57 adapted to be brought into printing posit-ion as required, above the platen 56. These rings bear identifying: letters 58 in recesses located between the raised type 57, such identifying letters being so located relativev to their raised type duplicates that when for example, the identifying letter O is located in registration with the window 54, the type-letter 0 will be positioned in printing position relative to the platen 56.

Through the arrangement described, it will be clear that by manipulation of the five type-rings through rotation of the knobs 37, 4D, 43, 46 and 49a, suitable inscription may be aligned and subsequently printed. To arrange the inscription it is merely necessary to rotate the several knobs until the. proper subject matter appears in the window 54. To limit the. rotation of the rings 28 and 32 relative to the drum 27, stops 209. are formed on the sides of the drum, these stops forming abutments for screws 2.08 projecting from the sides of the rings 28 and 32. The type-ring 28 maybear the. name of the store. or other establishment which sells the article on which the printing is tov be produced. The rings 29, 30, and 31 may be used to form any combination of initial letters of the purchaser's name, and the ring 32 may carry descriptive matter to identify the article purchased, such as its color, style, size or shape, or it may merely apply an. identifying number to the article.

To hold the type. rings in any set position, five spring-pressed rollers 59 are'provided (Figs. 3 and 8) each of which is adapted to be held in engage ment with one of a series of spaced recesses 60 formed in the inner face of each of the type rings, as clearly shown in Fig. 8. A spring 62 located in a recess 6.1 formed in an enlargement 63 on the inner face of the. wall of the drum 27 urges the roller toward the recesses and holds the roller in engagement with any one of them. The recesses 60 are so positioned relative to the type-bars that a positive alignment of any type bar with the platen is assured when the roller engages the properly positioned or corresponding recess. One of the rollers 59 is provided for each of the rings 28, 29, 30, 3.1 and 32-, as shown in Fig. 3.

The ink supplied to the type on the type-rings 28 to 32- inclusive, is supplied from an ink-saturated reservoir pad 64' contained in a holder 66 located on the end of a bracket which is mounted to rock on the cam shaft 20. An expansible link 6'7 has its lower end pivoted at 68 to an ear 69 on the bracket 65, and its upper end pivoted at '10. in the end of a cam lever '71. Said lever 71 is pivoted at its opposite end on a rod '72 extending between and connecting the two frame members 11 and 12. A cam roller '73 is mounted in the lever 71, said roller being held against a cam 74 secured on the shaft 15. A coil spring 75 surrounding the expansible link 67 acts to normally expand the several parts of said link and hold the roller '73 in contact with the cam 74. A coil spring 76. attached to an arm 7'7 on the bracket 65 has its lower end engaging a hook 78 formed on the base plate 14, and aids in holding the cam 74 and roller '73 in resilient contact and balancing the reservoir pad holder 66. The pad holder 66 is provided with a removable cover plate 79 held in place by springs 80. By removal of this plate the ink supply held by the pad 64 may be easily replenished.

Ink held by the pad 64 is delivered to a wiper 81 by means of a distributing roller 82 covered with felt and secured on a spindle 83 having its opposite ends journalled in blocks 84 which are slidably mounted in slots 85 in the frames 25. The journal blocks 84 are normally pressed toward the wiper 81 by means of springs 86, the movement of each of said blocks toward the wiper being limited by a tooth 87 on the block abutting against a shoulder 88 on the frame 25. When the wiper 81 is rotated, in a manner to be described, its pad 89 is brought into contact with the inkimpregnated felt covering of the distributing roller 82 and receives a supply of ink therefrom. The resilient mounting of the distributing roller 82 enables it to be brought into firm contact with the pad 89, yet permits the pad to rotate past it. From the ink-supply structure described, it will be apparent that during a part of the rotary movement of the shaft 15, the cam 74 operating on the roller 73 will through the link 67, depress the ink pad 64, bringing it into contact with a portion of the periphery of the distributing roller 82 to charge said roller with ink. The wiper 81 will, during its rotation, have its pad 89 brought into contact with the ink-charged felt covering of the distributing roller 82 and thus receive a charge of ink from said roller which it brings into contact with the particular line of type carried by the type-rings on the drum 27 adapted to be brought down on top of the article to be marked, while said article is held on the platen 56.

In order that the distributing roller 82 shall be uniformly supplied with ink from the reservoir pad 64, means is provided for rotating the roller so that a fresh surface on said roller is brought against the pad 64 each time that the roller contacts with the pad. The roller-rotating means consists of a pawl 90 pivoted at 91 on the frame member 12 and held against a ratchet 92 by a spring 93. The ratchet 92 is secured on the spindle 83 on which the distributing roller 82 is secured. When the frames 25 carrying the typedrum 27 swing upward on their pivot 15 under the operation of the cams 21 and 22, the ratchet 92 is moved relative to the pawl and it is rotated slightly by the pawl so that when the distributing roller 82 is next brought into contact with the reservoir pad 64, it presents a new portion of its periphery against the pad for ink replenishment.

The wiper 81 is secured on a shaft 94 rotatably mounted in the frames 25, said shaft also carrying a pinion 95 in mesh with a segmental gear 96 formed on the side of the drum 27. Thus, when the drum is moved with an oscillatory movement by a mechanism to be described, the segmental gear 96 will rotate the pinion 95 and consequently turn the shaft 94 and wiper 81 carried thereby, thus bringing the wiper against the distributing roller 82 and then against the line of type to be subsequently impressed against an article held on the platen 56.

The means for rocking or moving the drum 27 with an oscillatory movement is shown in detail in Figs. 9 and 10. It will be there seen that the cam shaft 20 carries a cam 97 provided with a cam groove 98 in its inner face. A roller 99 on the end of a lever 100 is positioned within the cam groove. The lever 100 is pivoted at 101 in the frame member 11 and has its upper end pivotally connected at 102 to an adjustable link 103 which has its opposite end pivoted at 104 to the lower end of an arm 105 secured on the shaft 26 on which the drum 2'? is also secured. The shaft 26 is thus a rock shaft capable of limited oscillatory movement, the extent of such movement being determined by stops 106 and 107 protruding from the outer face of the frame member 11 and acting as abutments for a roller 108 carried at the upper end of the arm 105.

From the mechanism thus for described, it will be seen that the drum 27 on which the five typerings are mounted, is capable of both a vertical raising and lowering movement and an oscillatory movement. The oscillatory movement of the drum acts to swing the line of type to be inked, rearward and away from the platen 56, to receive the contact of the wiper pad 89 and obtain a supply of ink therefrom. The return oscillatory movement of the drum 27 brings the inked line of type back to a position above the platen. Then, through operation of the cams 21 and 22, the drum is lowered to the printing position, bringing the inked line of type into contact with the article held on the platen. A brake consisting of a pad 204 secured on the end of a spring arm 205, attached to a block 206 on the frame member 11 bears against the side of the drum 27 so that the oscillatory movement of the drum is smooth and stable.

The platen 56 is carried by a slidably mounted carriage consisting mainly of a casing 109 having a top 110, integral side walls 111 and a front end 112. The casing and the associated parts carried by it are slid manually to and from the printing position wherein the platen is located below the drum as shown in Figs. 1 and 7. The non-printing position, with the carriage withdrawn, is that shown in Fig. 4. The carriage is guided in its sliding movement to and from the printing drum by three spaced slots 113 provided in the ribbed forward extension of the base plate 14. Lugs 115 formed on the casing having their squared lower ends entering the slots 113 which serve to guide the casing in its sliding movement. The lower ends of the lugs are held in the slots 113 by washers 114 held in place by screws 114a. The platen 56 is vertically movable through a slot 116 (Fig. 4.) provided in the top 110 of the easing. An article such as indicated at in Fig. 1, placed on the platen to receive an imprint from the inked line of type is gripped between the upper surface of the platen 56 and the under face of a plate 117 secured on the back 203 of the casing 109 by the screws 118. This plate 117 overlies the platen and is provided with a row of apertures 119 through which the inked type can project to contact with the surface of the article to be printed.

The platen 56 is in the form of a frame having a pair of downwardly extending sides 126 vertically slidable in guide-grooves 127 (see Fig. 6) provided in the side walls 111 of the casing 109. The lower ends of the platen sides 126 are forked at 128 to extend over an axle 129 carrying a roller 130 located centrally between the sides 126 of the platen. Said roller is located in the forked lower end of a supporting member 131 which is provided with a vertical bore 121 through which the stem 120, projecting downwardly from the platen, extends. A pin 132 passes through the stem 120, said pin being movable in a vertical slot 133 formed in the member 131. A coil spring 134 surrounds the stem 120 and rests on top of the member 120 and has its upper end bearing against the under side of the platen. The roller is held in constant contact with the base plate 14 by the downward pressure of a plate spring said spring having one of its ends pressing downwardly on the roller and having its other end secured to the casing 109 by means of a screw 136 extending through the spring and threaded into a boss 137 formed on-the under face of the top 110 of the casing.

The base plate 14 is provided with a raised cam-plate or track 138 on which the roller 130 is adapted to ride when the casing and platen mechanism carried by it is manually slid inward- 1y or toward the drum 2'7. The roller 130, riding upwardly on the cam track 138, carries the platen upwardly so that when the carriage reaches the extent of its inward movement, the article to be printed is gripped between the top of the platen 56 and the underside of the gripper plate 117. Since the platen is resiliently mounted on the coil spring 134, the article to be printed is firmly, yet resiliently, gripped and held regardless of its thickness or bulk. The casing top 110 is transversely grooved at 139 at a position behind the platen so that any article having a thickened edge portion, hem or border may have such edge portion accommodated in said groove during the printing operation.

To prevent the machine from being operated while the platen carriage is in its outwardly drawn position, a safety catch is provided, the same consisting of a dog 140 pivoted at 141 in an ear 142 struck out from the base plate 14. The dog 140 has a heavier lowerend 143 which by gravity normally tends to hold the upper end 144 of the dog in the path of a stud 145 projecting laterally from the face of the cam 22. The stud 145 is so positioned on the cam that when the machine is in its period of rest at the end of a printing operation, said stud is inabutment with the end 144 of the dog, thus preventing rotation of the cam shaft 20. Consequently any effort to rotate the shaft 15 by manipulation of the handle 16 will be resisted and the machine held inoperative until the dog has its end 144 moved out of the path of the stud 145. To render the machine operative, the platen carriage is moved inwardly to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 8 which brings a cam lug 146, located on a rearwardly extended portion 147, of the casing 103, into contact with the inclined face 148 on the dog 140, thus raising the end 143 of the dog and swinging the dog about its pivot 141 and moving its end 144 rearwardly and out of the path of movement of the stud 145, as shown in Fig. 1.

An additional locking means for the machine is provided, the same consisting of a dog 150 pivotally mounted on a stud 151 projecting from the outer face of the frame member 11. This dog 150 is adapted to engage a shoulder 152 provided on the edge of the cam 97 and prevent the shaft 26, on which said cam is attached, from moving in a clockwise direction. Similarly, another dog 153 pivoted at 154 in the frame member 11 acts to engage a shoulder 155 on the edge of the cam 97 and acts to prevent rotation of the cam in an anti-clockwise direction. The two dogs are connected by the spring 156. Thus, through operation of the two dogs 150 the shaft 26 is locked against movement in any direction until the dog 15 is disengaged from the shoulder 152. To permit this disengagement, the dog 150 is provided with a projecting pin or handle por-- tion 157 adapted to be engaged by the fingers of the operator. When the pin 157 is pressed to the right of Figs. 9 and 10 the dog 150 is pivoted about its axis 151 as shown in dotted lines (Fig. 9) and, assuming that the platen carriage is properly located in its retarded position so as to disengage the dog 140 from the stud 145, the operating handle 16 is free to be rotated in a clockwise direction to cause the printing operation to be performed. The dog 153 is always held in contact with the edge of the cam 97 and at the end of each printing operation it engages the shoulder 155 and prevents the operator from turning the handle 16 in the improper or anti-clockwise direction.

To suitably protect the mechanism of the machine, it is enclosed in a casing having side plates 56 which have bosses 207 received upon the threaded ends of the rod 72. These plates are suitably apertured as at 160 and 161, to permit the passage of the type-drum adjusting shafts 35, 39, 42, 45 and 48 and the pin 157 respectively. One of the side plates 56 is provided with a boss 162 through which the hub of the operating handle 16 may extend to reach the shaft 15 on which it is secured. Cover plates 163, 164 and 165 extend over the back, top and front of the machine, these cover plates being held between the side plates 56 and co-operate therewith to completely enclose the mechanism of the machine. The rear plate 163 is removably held in position by the tongues 166 and 167 so that it may be readily snapped in place or removed, a knob 168 projecting from the back of the plate 163 facilitating the removal and replacement of this plate. The cross plate 55, located between the cover plates 164 and 165 is provided with the window 54 through which the identifying plates 53 and identifying letters 58 may be seen and aligned to provide the proper inscription to be printed.

Briefly, the operation of the machine is as follows:

To imprint a selected inscription upon an article, said inscription consisting preferably of the name of the establishment where the article was purchased, the initials of the purchasers name and a description of the goods, the inscription is first prepared on the type bars by rotation of the five knobs 37, 40, 43, 46 and 49, until the proper inscription appears on the window 54. This produces a corresponding arrangement of the type bars 52 and the type 57, carried by the five type rings, in printing position. The platen carriage is then drawn out to the position shown in Fig. 4. As the carriage is drawn outwardly, the roller 130 descends from the elevated cam track 138 to the position substantially shown in Fig. 4, this descent of the roller acting to draw down the platen 56 to the limit of its lowered movement so that there is an appreciable space between the top of the platen and the under side of the plate 117 as shown in Fig. 4. The article to be printed, indicated at 125 in the drawings, is inserted in this space between the upper face of the platen 56 and the under face of the plate 117, with the openings 119 in the plate 117 properly positioned with respect to that portion of the article on which it is desired to print the inscription. The carriage then slid inwardly to its retracted position, this action bringing the cam 146 in contact with the angular edge 143 of the dog 146 so that the dog 140 is swung about its pivot 141 and its upper end 144 disaligned from the path of the stud 145. As the carriage is slid inwardly, the roller 130 rides 1,987,429 up on the dam track 138 so that the platen 56 'is elevated and it thus acts to grip the article 125-between its upper face and the under face of the plate 117, holding the article securely, yet resiliently. The compensating coil spring 134 enables the platen to grip an article of any thickness, yet holds it resiliently so that the article-will not be damaged.

To imprint the inscription on the article so held, it is merely necessary to release the lock,

consisting of the dog 150, by pressing rearwardly on the stem157 located on the dog and rotate theoperating handle 16 through one complete revolution. In the position of rest of the handle, said handle extends downwardly adjacent to the stem 157 so that said stem can be easily pressed as. the hand of the operator moves to grasp the handle. At the beginning of movement of the handle, the wiper pad 89 is in contact with the distributing roller 82 and as the handle'16 starts the rotation of the shaft 15, the'drum oscillating means, consisting of the mechanism shown in Figs. 9 and 10, begins to rotate the drum in a clockwise direction as viewed from the side on which the handle 16 is located. As the drum starts this rotary movement the segmental gear 96 carried by it begins to rotate the pinion'95 secured on the shaft 94 carrying the wiper 81. This causes the wiper pad 89 to impinge against and apply ink to the line of typeto be impressed on the article then held between the platen 56 and plate 117. As rotation of the handle continues, the drum 27 reaches the limit of its clockwise rotative movement at which time the roller 108 on the lever 105 is in abutment with the stop 106. When the limit of rotative movement of the drum is reached, it then descends vertically under the action of the cam grooves 23 and co-operating cam rollers 24 carried by the frames 25. In such vertical descent, the shaft 26 on which the drum is secured, is guided by the groove 200 in the frame member 11. Thedrum continues to descend until the-row of type to be imprinted is projected through the openings 119 in the plate 117 and brought into contact with the article 125 to print the inscription upon the same. As further rotation of the handle continues, the drum is raised and then rocked with an anti-clockwise movement to its final period of rest, which is the position shown in Fig. 9, With the roller 108 against the stop 107 and the shaft 20 locked against further rotative movement, by the dogs 150 and'153. This completes the cycle of movement required to print. The platen carriage is then drawn out, this causing the platen 56 to descend and free the article formerly gripped between it and the plate 117. During the movement of the drum as just described, the frames are so'shifted relative to the pawl 90 that the ratchet 92, carried by the shaft 83 and in contact with the pawl, is caused to be rotated slightly by the pawl so that the distributor roller 82, secured on the shaft 83, presents a new surface-to the reservoir pad 64 on each revolution of the handle 16. In this way, even distribution of ink on the distributing roller 82 is had.

The arrangement of the ink mechanism is such that the ink supply and distributing means is located at a position remote from the article to be printed so that'the possibility of the article beingdamaged by inadvertent contact with ink is avoided.

'- From the foregoing it will be seen that an imprint is had on the article by a simple rotation of the handle 16. The locking mechanism provided on the machine, prevents the machine from being operated until the platen carriage, bearing an article to be impressed, is in position to complete the printing operation and the safety lock, comprising the dog 150, holds the machine in locked position until the operator is ready to mark an article whereupon a pressure on the pin 157 and a single turn of the handle 16 performs the printing operation.

What we claim is:

1. A machine of the character described having an article support, a resilient mounting for said support, means for printing the place of purchase, the initials of the purchasers name and a description of the article on said article, means on which the article support and its mounting are positively moved into printing position relative to the printing means, and means for rendering the printing means inoperative when the article support is out of printing position.

2. In a machine of the character described, a drum, a plurality of type-bearing rings adjustably mounted on said drum, ink-supply means, a platen for holding an article while said article receives an impression from inked type carried by the rings, a manually rotatable shaft, means for supporting the drum from said shaft, means for oscillating the drum to move a line of type borne by the rings into ink receiving position from the inking means and then to a position above the platen, means for lowering the drum to bring the inked type into contact with an article supported on the platen and then raising the drum.

3. In a machine of the character described, a manually operated shaft, a cam-shaft driven therefrom, a supporting frame hung on the manually operated shaft and movable relatively thereto, a drum movably supported by said frame, printing type carried by said drum, a platen located relative to said drum to enable an article supported on said platen to receive an impression from the printing type on the drum, an ink supply, means driven from the cam-shaft to oscillate the drum to move a line of type carried thereby into position to be inked by the ink supply, and then into position to locate the inked type above the platen, and means driven from said cam shaft to lower the drum into contact with an article supported on the platen.

4. In a machine of the character described, a drum, a plurality of type-bearing rings adjustably mounted on the periphery of said drum, inksupply means, a resiliently mounted platen for holding an article while said article receives an impression from inked type carried by the rings, a manually rotated shaft, means for supporting the drum from said shaft, means for oscillating the drum to move a line of type borne by the rings into contact with the inking means and then to printing position relative to the platen, means for first lowering and then raising the drum to bring the inked type first into contact with an article supported by. the platen and then elevated above said article, means driven from the manually rotated shaft for oscillating the drum to carry it from inking to printing position, and

means for preventing operation of the drum uncarried by said drum, a resiliently mounted platen located relative to said drum to enable an article supported on said platen to receive an impression from the type on the drum, an ink supply, means driven from the cam-shaft to oscillate the drum to move a line of type carried thereby into position to be inked by the ink supply, and then carried into position above the platen, and means also driven from said cam shaft to lower the drum into contact with an article supported on the platen, a lock for preventing cam-shaft rotation and means for releasing said look when the platen is holding an article in position to be printed.

6. In a machine of the character described, printing means, an article-holding platen adapted to hold an article to be printed by said printing means, a sliding casing in which said platen is mounted, said platen being carried by said casing to and from the printing means, means for elevating the platen as said platen reaches a position to receive an imprint on an article carried by it from the printing means, an apertured plate positioned between the platen and printing means, and spring means for resiliently forcing the platen toward said plate.

7. In a machine of the character described, a drum carrying printing means, means for moving said drum with a vertical and oscillatory movement, a platen against which the printing means on the drum is carried at the end of the vertical movement of the drum, a support for the platen, said support being movable to and from the drum to move the platen into and out of printing position, gripping means for co-operating with the platen to grip an article between the platen and said means, and hold it while being printed, and spring means for resiliently forcing the platen toward the gripping means.

8. In a machine of the character described, printing means, an article-holding platen adapted to hold an article to be printed by said printing means, a sliding casing in which said platen is mounted, said platen being carried to and from the printing means, means located within the casing for elevating the platen as said platen reaches a position to receive an imprint on an article carried by it from the printing means, an apertured plate on the casing positioned between the platen and printing means, and spring means within the casing for resiliently forcing the platen upward to meet said plate.

9. In a machine of the character described, a drum carrying printing means, means for moving said drum with a vertical and oscillatory movement, 2. platen against which the printing means on the drum is carried at the end of the vertical lowering movement of the drum, a sliding support for the platen, said support being movable to and from the drum to move the platen into and out of printing position, a gripper plate co-operating with the platen to grip an article between it and the platen and hold said article while being printed, spring means for resiliently forcing the platen toward the gripping means, and means for lowering the platen away from the gripping plate when the platen-support is slid away from the drum.

I 10. In a machine of the character described, a drum carrying printing characters, means positioned within the drum for arranging the positions of the characters on the drum relative to one another, means for moving said drum with a vertical and an oscillatory movement, a platen against which the printing characters on the drum are carried at one end of the vertical movecarried by said work support, said plate having a portion overlying the platen and adapted to cooperate therewith to grip an article to be printed, means for raising the platen toward the plate when the work support is slid toward the drum and for lowering said platen when the work support is slid away from the drum, ink supply means for applying ink to a row of characters on the drum at one end of the oscillatory movement of the, drum, and locking means for preventing movement of the drum when the work support is positioned away from said drum.

- 11. In a machine of the character described, printing means, a work support adapted to he slid to and from printing position, means carried by said support for'resiliently gripping an article and holding it for printing when the support is in printing position, means for releasing the article when the support is in nonprinting position, a lock for preventing operation of the printing means, and means for releasing the look when the work support is in printing position.

12. In a machine of the character described, a drum carrying printing characters, means positioned within the drum for arranging the positions of the characters on the drum relative to one another, means located externally of the drum for manually adjusting the character-positioningmeans, means for moving the drum with a' vertical and an oscillatory movement, a platen against which a line of the printing characters on the drum are carried at one end of the vertical movement of the drum, a work support in which'the platen is resiliently mounted, means for supporting said work support to permit of manual sliding movement of the same to and from the drum, a plate carried by said work support,

said plate having a portion overlying the platen and adapted to co-operate therewith to grip on article to be printed, :means for raising the platen toward the plate when the work support is slid toward the drum and for lowering said platen when the work support is slid away from the drum, ink supply means for applying in! to a :line of characters on the drum at one end of the oscillatory movement of the'drum, locking means for preventingmovement of the drum when the work support is positioned away from said drum, and means carried by the work support for releasing said locking means.

13. In a machine of the' character described, printing means comprising a drum carrying printing characters, a work support adapted to be slid to and from printing position, means carried by said support for resiliently holding an article to be printed when the support is in printing position beneath the drum, means for releasing the article when the support is in: nonprinting position at a distance from the drum, a lock for the printingmeans and means for releasing the lock and rendering the printing means operative when the work support is in printing position.

14. In a machine of the character described, inking means, a type-bearing drum, a platen adapted to cooperate with said drum in printing an impression on an article held on the platen, means for supporting the platen so that it can be manually slid to and from the drum, locldng means for normally holding, the inoperameans ti've', means carried by the platen support for releasing said locking means, means for oscillating the drum to carry it to the inking means and then to a position for printing, and for moving the drum to and from the platen.

15. In a machine of the character described, printing means, a platen support movable to and from the printing means, said platen support comprising a casing, a base plate on which said (casing is slid, a platen mounted in the casing and capable of vertical movement through a slot provided in said casing, means on the base plate for causing the platen to be elevated when the basing is slid. towards the printing means and lowered when said casing is slid away from the (printing means, a roller-carrying member movable on said last-mentioned means, and a spring between said roller-carrying member and the platen for resiliently supporting the platen.

16. In a machine of the character described, inking means, a type-bearing drum, a platen adapted to cooperate with said drum in printing an impression on an article held on the platen, means for resiliently supporting the platen and permitting it to be manually slid to and from the drum, locking means for normally holding the drum inoperative, means carried by the platen support for releasing said locking means, a manually rotated shaft and means connected thereto for oscillating the drum to first carry it to the inking means and then to a position for printing and for moving the drum to and from the platen.

17. In a machine of the character described, printing means, a platen support siidable to and from the printing means, said platen support comprising a casing, a base plate on which said casing is slid, slots in said base plate for guiding the platen support in its sliding movement, a platen mounted in the casing and capable of vertical movement through a slot provided in said casing, a track on the base plate for causing the platen to be elevated when the casing is slid towards the printing means and lowered when said casing is slid away from the printing means, a roller-carrying member movable on said track, a spring between said roller-carrying member and the platen for resiliently supporting the platen, and a plate co-operating with the platen to grip an article to be printed when the platen is in its raised position.

18. A machine of the character described, comprising a drum, a plurality of annular type-carrying rings rotatably mounted on the periphery of said drum, pinions located within said drum for engaging and rotating said r ngs, a shaft secured to each of said pinions, said shafts projecting outside of the drum and being capable of selective rotation, to adjust the several rings relative to the drum, locking eans for holding each of the rings in any position of adjustment, a reservoir ink pad, a distributing roller adapted to be intermittently brought into contact with said pad to receive ink therefrom, a rotatable wiper, means carried by the drum for rotating said wiper to bring it into contact with the distributing roller and then into contact with a line of type borne by the rings, a platen for supporting an article intended to receive the impression of the inked line of type,'a support for said platen, a mounting for the platen-support on which said support and platen carried by it may be manually moved to and from the drum, a manually rotated shaft, means operated thereby for bringing the ink reservoir pad into contact with the distributing roller, and means operated by said shaft for oscillating the drum to bring the line of type thereon in position to be inked by the wiper and then into printing position above the platen, and also to lower the drum to bring the inked line of type into contact with an article held on the platen.

19. A machine of the character described, comprising a drum, a plurality of annular type-carrying rings rotatably mounted on the periphery of said drum, pinions located within said drum for engaging and rotating said rings, a shaft secured to each of said pinions, said shafts projecting outside of the drum and being capable of selective rotation to adjust the rings relative to the drum, locking means for holding each of the rings in any position of adjustment, a reservoir ink pad, a distributing roller adapted to be intermittently brought into contact with said pad to receive ink therefrom, means for intermittently rotating the distributor roller, a rotatable wiper, means carried by the drum for rotating said wiper to bring it into contact with the distributing roller and then into contact with a line of type borne by the rings, a platen for supporting an article intended to receive the impression of the inked line of type, a support for said platen, a mounting for the platen support on which said support and platen carried by it may be manually moved to and from the drum, means on the platen support for raising and lowering the platen, means for resiliently mounting the platen on its support, means co-operating with the platen to hold an article in position to be printed, a manually rotated shaft, means operated thereby for bringing the ink reservoir pad into contact with the distributing roller, and means operated by said shaft for oscillating the drum to bring the line of type thereon in position to be inked by the wiper and then into printing position above the platen, and also to lower the drum to bring the inked line of type into contact with an article held by the platen and the article-holding means.

20. In a machine of the character described, printing means, a fixed apertured stop element located below the printing means, a resiliently mounted member movable upward from below the stop element for holding the upper surface of the article to be printed against the under side of the stop element regardless of the thickness, pliability or texture of the article to be printed, a carriage in which the resiliently mounted memher is supported and means for lowering the resiliently mounted member when the carriage is moved in one direction.

HARRY S. WOLFF. E. U. CAVE. 

